The aim of this study is to explore whether and how traditional African values manifest in a present-day, urban South African setting and whether these values could have an impact on HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. Five interviewees who work and live in Soshanguve confirmed that some traditional African beliefs still play a role in the lives of people in Soshanguve. Several authors stress the fact that certain traditional beliefs and values place people at risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection. Some of the traditional African beliefs that continue to shape and inform the behaviour of people who live in Soshanguve could therefore place them at risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection. These risks should be underlined in HIV/AIDS prevention programmes presented in Soshanguve. In the problem statement for this study the question is asked: how can traditional African beliefs and values be utilised in HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in Soshanguve? According to the P-E-N model or strategy, traditional cultural beliefs and behaviours may be categorised as positive (P), exotic (E) or negative (N), and treated accordingly. In terms of the P-E-N model, positive cultural beliefs and behaviours are those which are known to be beneficial in HIV/AIDS prevention. The emphasis in a community like Soshanguve should be on positive (P) beliefs and values that can be utilised in HIV/AIDS programmes. Traditional healers, community leaders and church leaders should all be involved in these programmes. Success stories in Africa point to the need for cultural sensitivity as well as the importance of involving the whole community in the fight against HIV/AIDS. / Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

In hierdie studie is die bydrae wat sosiaal-wetenskaplike kritiek as analitiese metode vir die verstaan van die boek Ester kan maak, ondersoek. Die doel, naamlik om die boek Ester beter te verstaan, is bereik deur ‘n uitgebreide literatuurverkenning. Die nege vrae wat Elliott (1993:72) in sy boek “What is Social-Scientific Criticism?” stel, is as basis vir analise gebruik. Die outeur van die boek Ester het waarskynlik die diaspora-Jode (539 vC tot 332 vC) in gedagte gehad by die skrywe van die Ester-verhaal, wat deur verskeie navorsers beskryf is as ‘n goeie verhaal wat goed vertel word. Die sosiale agtergrond van die verhaal is verken en die leser-gehoor is geïdentifiseer. Die strategie wat die outeur gebruik het om die leser-hoorders te motiveer om getrou aan hulle Joodse tradisies te bly, is bespreek. Die ideologiese tema van die boek Ester verwys na die voorsienigheid van God, al word sy naam nie in die oorspronklike Hebreeuse teks genoem nie. Die outeur sluit hierby aan deur implisiete boodskappe aan die lesers te rig. ‘n Bespreking van die makrostruktuur van die boek Ester, insluitend die dinamiese motiewe en temas, voltooi die ontsluiting van die sosiale en kulturele aspekte van die boek. ENGLISH : In this study, the contribution of social-scientific criticism as an analytical method towards an understanding of the book Esther has been researched. The aim, namely to improve an understanding of the book Esther, has been achieved by means of an extensive literature study in order to obtain answers to the nine questions that Elliott (1993:72) uses as a basis for social-scientific criticism in his book “What is Social-Scientific Criticism?” The unknown author of the book Esther presumably had the Diaspora Jews (539 BC to 332 BC) in mind when he wrote the Esther narrative. Various researchers have described the Esther narrative as a good story that is well told. In this study, the social background to the story is explored and the reader audience identified. The strategy used by the author to motivate his readers to remain true to their Jewish traditions is discussed. The ideological theme of the book Esther refers to the providence of God, although his name is not mentioned in the original Hebrew text. The author concurs with this theme by means of implicit messages directed at the readers. A discussion of the macrostructure of the book Esther, including the dynamic themes and motives, completes the exposition of the cultural and social aspects of the book. / Dissertation (MA (Ancient Languages))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Ancient Languages / unrestricted

Ungulate browsing and its ecological effects at plant, population, community, and ecosystem levels were addressed in a eutrophic southern African savanna. This was to test predictions of prevailing hypotheses, which are based on research in boreal and temperate forests. Changes in plant morpho-functional traits and population structure of a staple palatable species, Acacia nigrescens Miller were addressed over a two-year survey among vegetation stands with very different histories of attack from herbivores. Moreover browser-induced effects on functional composition of a woody plant community were addressed along a strong browsing gradient. Nutrient cycling was investigated through measurements of leaf litter decomposition rates, as well as soil and leaf chemistry analyses. Finally, a modelling approach was used to make predictions on plant productivity and changes in soil nutrient availability under ungulate browsing according to opposite plant defensive traits (i.e. tolerance vs resistance). I found evidence that long-term selective browsing may negatively affect soil nutrient pool, at least in the vicinity of palatable woody plants. I proposed this might be due to the drastic reduction of leaf-twig litter mass returned to the soil, which likely decreased decomposer activity and negatively affected N mineralization rates. Hence, the processes responsible for a loss of nutrients in the soil were different from those proposed for northern hemisphere scenarios, which were instead due to decreased litter quality. However, I found evidence of high plant resilience in heavily browsed sites where Acacia stands shown (1) higher leaf N during the main growing season, (2) higher N release from leaf litter, (3) high concentrations of nitrate (NO3) and ammonium (NH4), and (4) similar, or even faster, litter decomposition rates than in lightly browsed sites. Firstly, this suggests that tree pruning triggers and maintains a fast nutrient cycling within the plant-browser system. The accelerating effect is supported by high mass compensatory growth abilities from highly palatable, fast-growing Acacia trees that produce highly decomposable litter. Secondly, browsing may have a long-term decelerating effect on N cycling through quantitative changes in litter production rather than through qualitative changes in litter chemistry. Further studies should better address processes related to soil nutrient cycling to confirm such hypothesis. I discuss how the interactive effects of browsing-grazing-soil fertility may influence nutrient cycling trough different ecological processes. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

In developing rural areas of South Africa that are mainly occupied by small-scale farmers, the productivity of tropical/subtropical fruits is relatively low. This study has been focusing on the opportunities and constraints faced by small-scale farmers on irrigated and dryland orchards farms in Venda. This was done by attempting to gain realistic understanding of what shapes small-scale farmers and how the various influencing factors can be adjusted so that, taken together, they produce more beneficial outcomes. The specific objectives of the study were to look at the cropping practices by smallholders in Venda for the purpose of acquiring a sound insight in present status, future and constraints of tropical/ subtropical fruit production based on literature and case study; understand the needs and aspirations of these farmers, and to ascertain how support rendered to small-scale farmers can be improved. In order to satisfy these objectives, a questionnaire was developed for specific use among small-scale farmers and a sample of 66 respondents was drawn from Tshakhuma, Muledane, Mukula and Tshifudi areas in Venda. A questionnaire also included details on personal characteristics of farmers, cropping practices and their problems. Frequency tables were utilized to analyse the data. The results of this study indicated that the there is a significant relationship amongst the cropping techniques. Looking at the orchard size and the type of fertilizers applied by the farmers, it has been revealed that farmers owning the small size of the land mostly apply the organic fertilizers, while depending on the family labour. The results also indicated that farmers owning dryland orchards apply the inputs differently from those who practice irrigation farming. Most of the farmers who practice irrigation farming, as compared to dryland farmers, apply inputs such as inorganic fertilizers, supplemental water through irrigation, and hire labourers. A review of historical background of Vhavenda people was also included in this study to look at their attitudes towards developmental issues. Among the Vhavenda people there are a number of cultural factors which tend to impact on socio-economic development. These factors, among others, include traditional and polygamous marriages, male dominated authorities, sharing of goods, worshiping of ancestors, and extended families. Historical background indicated that modern cropping methods of tropical/subtropical fruit production are not part of Vhavenda culture, and as a result people relied on indigenous fruits of veld and relishes for their diet. A survey on climatic conditions and current situation revealed the extent of cropping practices on tropical/subtropical fruit production with regard to small-scale farming techniques, and limiting factor on production and marketing of tropical/ subtropical fruits in Venda. Areas in Venda where small-scale tropical/subtropical farmers is actively practiced and where the research was conducted, small-scale farmers were divided into three categories, namely, home garden owners, farmers who produce under dryland conditions, and the farmers who produce under irrigation systems. It was clear that the study areas had a great potential with regard to physical aspects that promote sustainable production of tropical/subtropical fruits, but this potential is not fully utilized. The reasons for failure of tropical/subtropical fruit projects are ascribed to be uneconomic farm units, lack of knowledge and skills, lack of funding, lack of reliable markets due to fruit loss at the storage facilities, lack of infrastructure in general and lack of land use planning and management. Mismanagement of orchards in the research areas has resulted in poor cropping performance (yield). It was evident that in this survey that the infrastructure used by the farmers is poor. In terms of support service, small-scale farmers faced serious challenges as they depend on their incomes to render cropping practices. It is difficult whether or not they will function independently in the long run. It seems unlikely that small-scale farmers can survive if struck by a sudden disaster such as fire or drought. Small-scale farmers need an extremely diverse range of training to facilitate the development of managerial and technical skills. Results of this study revealed that the type of support needed by the farmers include the financial assistance, training, technical advice, marketing of fruits and advice on marketing, continued assistance on existing tropical/subtropical fruit projects, and assistance in acquiring a farm or more land. / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Plant Production: Horticulture))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

Effects of sex, age and pre-slaughter conditioning on the characteristics of South African indigenous goat carcasses (weight, dimensions, and joint and tissue composition) and quality of chevon (pH and temperature profiles, histological, histochemical, metabolic, proteolytic and physical) were determined. Effects of post-mortem ageing and electrical stimulation on the quality of chevon were also investigated. The nutritional quality of chevon in terms of fatty acid and amino acid content was assessed. The acceptability of chevon compared to mutton was tested by a panel of South African consumers. The goats were large with live weight, carcass weight and carcass dimensions in the range of the large breeds of southern Africa. They had a high lean and low fat content that is typical of most goat breeds. Intact males were suited for high chevon yield because they were heavy, had a high lean and low fat content, and losses during dressing and chilling were reduced by improved nutrition. Goats between two and six teeth yielded heavy carcasses that were comparable to goats in the eight teeth group, and had proportionately more lean. The hind limb appeared to be ideal for high lean and low fat high value cuts but the dorsal trunk was bony and yielded less lean. Pre-slaughter conditioning improved the overall size of the goats and reduced the losses during slaughter and chilling. It also improved the lean/bone and lean and fat/bone indices. The M. longissimus thoracis (LT) had a low glycolytic potential (GP), high initial lactate concentration, low initial pH and high ultimate pH (pHu) values, all of which indicated that peri-mortem handling of goats was a potent stressor. Chevon from carcasses with pHu<5.8 had higher initial GP, glycogen and ATP content. It had longer sarcomeres, low 96-hour shear force values and better colour quality than higher pH meat. Similarly, chevon from the 2-teeth group tended to have lower pHu values than contemporary groups and hence lower 96-hour shear force values and better colour quality. Conversely, mature does tended to have high pHu and hence a high mean 96-hour shear force value and a low mean a* value associated with dark cutting meat. Only up to 20% of the muscle samples had a pHu<5.8. Pre-slaughter conditioning had no effect on GP and pHu but enhanced the rate of pH and temperature decline and resulted in more tender meat with higher a* values. Generally carcasses with a 3-hour pH (pH3) of less than 6.1 were heavier, had more carcass fat, maintained a high temperature early post-mortem, had longer sarcomeres, better colour quality and lower 24-hour shear force values than those with a pH3 of 6.3 or greater. M. longissimus thoracis and M semimembranosus (SM) samples with pH3<6.1 constituted less than 22% of the samples. The LT and SM had different myofibre proportions. Myofibre types were not useful indices of meat quality. The level of immediate post-slaughter calpastatin activity suggests that the proteolytic potential of chevon is not essentially different from that of other meat types. Ageing and electrical stimulation improved tenderness and colour quality of chevon. Electrical stimulation increased the rate of pH decline to levels outside the risk of cold shortening as well as the ageing potential of chevon such that the meat attained tenderness that was within the acceptable limits for four days of ageing. Chevon had high levels of PUFA, particularly C18:2, which were similar to values reported for ostrich. The high C18:2/C18:3 ratio suggested that the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio would be much higher than the recommended ratio of less than four. Most of the fatty acid proportions fell within the ranges that have been reported for chevon and other red meat species. Age and sex of the goats had no significant effect on the fatty acid profile but pre-slaughter conditioning resulted in lower levels of C14:0 and total SFA, and increased levels of C18:1 and hence MUFA. The amino acid proportions suggest that there is no variation in the amino acid profile between M. longissimus lumborum muscles from goats of different age or sex classes. Level of education of the consumers was most important in determining consumer acceptance of the sensory attributes as well as the intended frequency of consumption for chevon and mutton. Population group was a significant factor only when the meats were of more variable acceptability. Sensory evaluations indicated that chevon and mutton were highly acceptable to the consumers, who were willing to eat any of the meats at least once a week. The study indicated that chevon is acceptable to South African consumers and may be as acceptable as mutton if the meat is from goats of about two years old or younger. South African indigenous goats may yield high quality chevon, with a low pHu and acceptable colour provided that the meat is from large carcasses (~15kg) with a high fat content (at least 7%) and is not from mature does. / Thesis (PhD (Animal Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

The design of a five star hotel entails a miniature world within the walls of a building. Attendant human and psychological factors in such a community must be carefully worked out and used to the advantage of the public, staff and hotelier alike. The different components of the hotel must be layered in such a manner that it is suitable contextually and functionally. The proposed hotel forms part of a very rich historically urban context. The focus of the design will be, not to ignore the surrounding context (as many hotels function on their own), but rather to support the city of Pretoria to strengthen its image as the Capital City and at the same time help to keep Church Street as the business core of the city. Densifying the Inner City to prevent urban sprawl and to create an environment that promotes security by activity. Although the scheme is a system in itself, it plays a supportive and integrative role in the Inner City of Pretoria.The design will strive not to be an island tipe building that exclude the general public, but instead to include them into the design so that the city as a whole remains the most important element. The proposed Building will be situated on a remaining portion of Sammy Marks Square on the corner of Church Street and Prinsloo Street. The building functions will include a wellness component (link with the surrounding hospitals), hotel suites for accommodation, offi ces and retail shops. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

The aim and the purpose of this study was to explore the marital satisfaction of couples of arranged marriages and autonomous marriages. The sample was composed of 88 marital dyads from a suburban population. Participants completed questionnaires regarding their satisfaction with their marriages. The dependent variable of marital satisfaction was measured by the dyadic adjustment scale and Kansas marital satisfaction scale. The results of the analysis of variance indicates that couples of autonomous marriages are more satisfied with their marriages than couples of arranged marriages. The setting in which a couple met and the degree of love at the time of marriage has a significant effect on the marital satisfaction of couples. Findings extended prior research by demonstrating that the manner in which couples are selected has an impact on their marital satisfaction within their relationships. / Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

How can we speak of the action of the mind under any divisions, as of its knowledge, of its ethics, of its works, and so forth, since it melts will into perception, knowledge into act? Each becomes the other. Itself alone is. Its vision is not like the vision of the eye, but is union with the things known. (Ralf Waldo Emerson, ‘Intellect’ 1841 in Stephen Wilson, The Bloomsbury Book of Mind, 2004:60) This study is a comparative study of the term “poetics of memory” and its psychological, linguistic, socio-cultural or metaphysic interpretation, applied to Philip Larkin’s poetry in Collected Poems and Molly Keane’s Good Behaviour. It also focuses on the exploration of some parts of the development of aesthetic thought – such as the categories of beauty, or the sublime, seeing them as an integral part of various literary theories. They are again linked to the term ‘poetics of memory’ as a complex of the aspects in the interpretation of the particular literary genre, style, or even a period. The meaning of the term “memory” is questioned, in its application to the presented literary genres of poetry and novel, particularly its use in the contexts of a selective memory. The study includes a discussion of Plato’s anamnesis, antique divine possession, catharsis, Proust’s involuntary memory, and the nature of a literary text as such, (with all its semiotic and stylistic characteristics). Larkin and Keane’s poetics deal with memory, recollection and time in relation to consciousness, linking these concepts to the influences of the same general historical and cultural climate under which the writers developed their own literary styles and personal messages, chosen to express a variety of ideas. Having as a background a history of Western thought, particularly the modern aesthetic streams of the second half of the twentieth century – ranging from modernism to the deconstruction of post-structuralism, Larkin and Keane share a common ground of feelings of negativism, nihilism, alienation and atheism. These aspects are explored. The applied term of the “poetics of memory” may be a key aesthetic term of understanding the history and essence of humanity and keeping it alive. / Dissertation (MA (English))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / English / unrestricted

The right of women to exert a choice regarding their reproductive behaviour is a fundamental right within the context reproductive rights. Reproductive rights and health encompass the exertion of individual choice but also adequate, safe and accessible health care services. Within this framework, the right to abortion and the right to access to safe abortion services is an integral part of reproductive rights and health. Reproductive rights and the right of women to choose the outcome of their reproductive behaviour, came to the foreground in terms of population policies and programmes that were concerned with rapid population growth. The widespread use of contraception and family planning programmes and the outcomes thereof, led to a focus on the rights of women in totality as well as the personal exertion of their choices. It is important to investigate the reasons that lead women to make a decision to terminate a pregnancy. In terms of demographics, answers are provided in terms of statistical rankings and weightings but no focus is given to the personal situations, circumstances and experiences of women. This is crucial to be able to determine the reasons for women terminating a pregnancy as reasons and sets of reasons are intricately linked within primary and secondary relationships. No reason stands in isolation to another, and a holistic view of a woman’s true and personal reality is required to understand why some women choose to terminate their pregnancy and other choose an alternate outcome. / Dissertation (MA (Demography))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Sociology / unrestricted

Nurturing both a family and career can be an exhausting, draining and frustrating challenge. It is often a conflicting struggle to balance the responsibilities of motherhood and the workplace. Even though roles within the family and workplace are in a constant state of change, it is still expected of women to be primarily responsible for family matters. This qualitative study attempted to focus on the perceptions, experience and meaning that the mother has on the influence of her family dynamics in the context of her life, on her productivity at DaimlerChrysler, through descriptive research. Focus group interviews were utilized as a data collection method. The researcher made use of an interview schedule guiding the interviews. The population consisted of 110 working mothers and a sample of 30 respondents was used. Although all 30 respondents confirmed, workload prevented them from attending the group sessions. Three focus group interviews were held with 17 respondents. In the first group six respondents attended, the second group consisted of another six and the third group had five respondents all from DaimlerChrysler Services in Centurion. Data was transcribed from tape recordings of the interviews with the necessary consent from respondents. An in depth literature study was launched after data collection to ensure objectivity and no preconceived perceptions. The research focused on two aspects during the literature study namely the systems in which the working mother is involved and part of, and productivity in the workplace. Five themes were identified during the data analysis. The researcher came to the conclusion that family dynamics do have an influence on the productivity of the working mother, but within DaimlerChrysler the influence is not as visible. / Dissertation (MSD (Employee Assistance Programme))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted